THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 11, 1994 TAG: 9412090324
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 20 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KATIE SOULE, HIGH SCHOOL CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: FRANKLIN LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
``Class, assemble into your groups.''
Or, ``We're going to be getting into new teams, so everyone can stand up until your name is called.''
``Your team project for this six weeks is . . . ''
In many Franklin High School classrooms, such statements are common. When teachers speak of ``groups'' or ``teams,'' they mean just what they say. Two years ago, Franklin High School adopted ``cooperative learning,'' also called group work, and it is catching on with students and faculty.
``Cooperative learning is an organized way of groups working together toward a common goal or objective. Teamwork is essential,'' explained Nancy P. Harrell, Franklin High's assistant principal.
``The workplace today demands group work,'' she said. ``It was always considered cheating to work together in school, but now there has to be a team effort.''
If used correctly, cooperative learning can be a teaching strategy that is fun, Harrell said. The structure of the class allows students to work together, focus on each other's strengths and weaknesses and to share responsibilities. It is important, however, for teachers to put thought and creativity into team projects in order to make them successful.
For instance, in Robert Kee's math analysis classes, he passes out a fun worksheet at the start of each grading period. These worksheets, with words to be unscrambled, pictures to be identified or other such tasks, are used to acquaint new group members.
In class, the teams compete for group points and the winners receive a prize, such as candy, at the end of the grading period.
Another teacher, Eric Denton, also uses cooperative learning in his English composition class. He refers to the system as ``peer inquiry.'' Groups of five students share their writing and prepare written comments. He said that this technique is helpful because ``students get feedback about their writing from as many people as possible.''
Denton also points out that writers learn to write better by reading the works of other writers, especially their peers.
Many students at Franklin High School say they enjoy working in groups. It has taken some a while to get used to the shift from working alone, they say. But if teachers are truly enthusiastic, it encourages students to participate, the students agree.
The idea of competing for group points for prizes appeals to the competitive nature of students. Each group wants to win the Blow-pop or Snickers bar, so team members combine their intellect, strive to defeat the others, yet learn at the same time. MEMO: Katie Soule is a junior at Franklin High School.
ILLUSTRATION: Soule
by CNB